inordinate

Inordinate means excessively large, intense, prolonged, or disproportionate to what is reasonable. The word is commonly used in formal and literary contexts to describe an excessive amount of time, money, pride, delay, or effort. For example, a process that takes far longer than necessary may be described as involving an inordinate amount of delay, while someone whose pride prevents them from listening to criticism may be said to possess inordinate pride. Although it resembles the simpler word excessive, inordinate often conveys that something is not merely unusually large but is out of proportion to the circumstances. The term is especially useful in writing that needs a more precise and elevated alternative to “too much” or “excessive.”

Excessive or disproportionate to what is reasonable, normal, or appropriate. It often describes an excessive amount, degree, or length of time.

Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.

Where does inordinate come from?

The adjective comes from the Latin inordinatus, formed from in-, meaning “not” or “without,” and ordo, meaning “order” or “arrangement.” It originally conveyed the idea of being out of order or improperly arranged, and developed into its modern sense of excessive or disproportionate. Related English words include order, orderly, ordinance, and co-ordinate, all reflecting the same Latin root for order and arrangement.

Related word forms

How inordinate is actually used

A formal or literary word. It is typically used with an amount, degree, length of time, pride, delay, or another abstract quality, and is more emphatic than simply “excessive.”

Easily confused with inordinate

What's another word for inordinate?

Words and phrases paired with inordinate

What's the opposite of inordinate?

Rhymes with inordinate